Mary was nominated by some members of the RCYC for a Lifetime Commitment RYA Community Award. These awards are given to people who have contributed exceptionally to more than 15 years service to their sailing clubs or associations. Other members of the club who have been given RYA awards include Judy Waples for her services to the Otters and Edwin Buckley.

Although I haven’t seen her nomination, Mary won her award for her work for her time as chairperson of the Otters, being Chairperson of the UK Cadet Association, being involved in the running of many regattas including the Dragon Worlds in Weymouth in 2011 and all her work in helping run the RCYC office .

The awards were presented by Princess Anne after the RYA AGM held in London last Friday. There were 52 Lifetime commitment awards presented as well as some national achievement and regional awards.

The award winners and their guests were invited to a splendid lunch after the ceremony – we were lucky enough to sit on the same table as Sarah Treseder OBE, Chief Executive of the RYA. I coincidentally sat next to Rob Lamb who I know as a national race officer including officiating at many Dragon regattas. He was given a national award. Not surprisingly Mary was very modest about the award and it did come as a complete surprise to her. However, all her family and of course I are very proud that her selfless commitment to the club and sailing (even though she’s never been on a boat I’ve owned!) has been recognised by fellow members of the RCYC and nationally by the RYA.

Martin Makey